Arpad angyal



March '15 1927. U v I A. ANGYAL MEANS OF PLAYING EERCUSSTON MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 16, 1925 VIN.

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

aims ares s2 of were" 131 51) maritime BALHAM, Lennon, ENGLAND.

Means or PLAYTNG PERCUSSION MUsrcAL rns'rnumn'n'r's.

Implication'filetl'ibeceinbe'r 18,1925, Seria1 in). 75,229, and in Great Britain .be'c'einber 17, 1924.

The purpose of my invention is to introduce a "novel construction of apparatus for playing percussion musical instruments other than pianofortes. An example of the type instrument for which my invention is particularly adapted is the Xylophone, which as is well known "consists of a pinrality of loosely supported pieces of wood "each o f winch produces a particular tone of that it "may be; a

l as a piano, 1. e. by the musician mg a keyboard, the keys of which when struck will transmit their n-ioveineit to strikers contiguous to the h lit to be 'zplayed.

According to my invention 1 provide a keyboard, as has heretofore been proposed for the same purpose, and a plurality of rods are connected to the keys and supported for axial rotation, each rod havingconnected to it a hammer or striker elementfor striking the notes of the instrument.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide keyboard similar to that of a piano, and in juxtaposition to the keyboard are supported a plurality of metal rods corresponding in number to the number of keys on the keyboard. Each of these rods is so supported and connected to a key of the keyboard that axial rotation is imparted thereto whereby a striker or hammer carried by a cranked extension of the rod is caused to move towards the instrument to be played with consequent striking of one of the notes of the instrument.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I have appended hereto a sheet of dra illustrating an embodiment of same and wherein Fig. l is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, and

Fig. is a sectional end vie looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 provide a suitable support 1 for the keyboard 2, and located in horizontal plane slightly above the keys 3 and just in rear of same is a flat board or frame 5 upon which are supported a plurality. of metal rods 6 tlatupon cord or flexible -Wire.

"the keyboard having an eye 8 at -its extrem i'ty to which is piyotallyconnec'ted a short, link '9 the lot-er end of which is 'pivo rlly connected to a key *0'11 the key board, whereby depression of the key will result in a pan being e'fiected on the cranked end of the rod we the key with consequent axial rotation of the rod. The links '9 are preferably "of flexible'ma'teria'l, 'for instance The other end of the rod is ci 'anked'i ii an opposite direction as at "b and carries hainineifo'r striker 10 so that "depress on of the key will result in the ham mer being raised, and immediately upon the -musician releasing the key the hammer will return at once to its normal position under the influence of its own Weight. Felt or other suitable material 11 is preferably interposed between the rods 6 and the board or frame.

The rods 6 preferably radiate outwards somewhat symmetrically from the keyboard, but of course the degree of radiation will have to be varied, according to the size of musical instrument it is desired to play. The musical instrument 12 to be played is supported in a horizontal plane above the hammers or strikers, and for this purpose raised ledges 13 or other suitable means of support are provided at the ends of the flat board or frame supporting the rods.

The keys of the keyboard are preferably fulcrumed on a common axis 1s about their median position, but have their portions 15 which do not constitute the actual keyboard heavier than the key portions so that an inimediate return to normal position of the keys is ensured, irrespectire of the weight of the hammers or strikers which also assist in the return of the keys.

The hammers or strikers will be varied in material or construction according to the type of instrument to be played, but aform of hammer suitable for most instruments for which my invention is intended and particularly for the playing of the Xylophone,

comprises a vertical metal cylinder 16, sol-id or loaded with lead or other substance of a high specific gravity, and the top of the cylinder carries a cap or plug 17 of leather, fibre, Wood or other desired material for striking the note.

If desired means may be provided to enable the volume of sound produced to be mufiied or reduced. 'One suitable means of effecting this is to provide a horizontal bar close to the hammers or strikers and carrying along one edge a strip of fabric, rubber or other suitable material. This bar may for instance be a movable bar substituted for the bar 18 carrying felt 11 such bar being shown as a fixture in the drawings. By moving this bar towards the hammers 19 are provided for supporting the sound producingmembers 20 to be struck, a suitable method of supporting these members,

which may be in the form of bars or the like being shown in the drawings, as comprising a number of eyeleted pins 21 passed through holes 22 in the members, a length specification.

of catgut or other suitable material being passed through-the eyes of the pins. The

front ends of the members can be supported in a similar manner, the pins however not passing through the members.

A number of inverted hollow box like members 23 of wood orother suitable material may be provided over the members 20, one box like member being located over each member 20, the dimensions of the boxes varying according to the tones of said members. By this manner extra resonance can be ob tained;

An apparatus constructed according to my invention will be cheap to produce so as to be within tile means of most people.

hat I claim is 7 In apparatus for playing percussion musical instruments, a keyboard including a depressible key, a member to be struck to sound a note,,a frame member, a rod mounted on said frame member for axial rotation, a crank at each end of said rod, a fiexible connection between the crank at one end of said rod and said key whereby depression of said key imparts rotation tosaid rod, and a hammer member carried bythe crank at the other end of said rod normally spaced from said member to be struck and movable into striking engagement with said member by rotation of said rod upon depression of said key.

In witness whereof I have signed this ARPAD ANGYAL. 

